2 Timothy 3
# 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3 is the third chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The letter is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle, the last one written in Rome before his death (c. 64 or 67), addressed to Timothy. However, most biblical scholars believe that it and the other Pastoral Epistles are the work of an anonymous follower, writing after Paul's death in the first century AD. This chapter contains a charge to Timothy to keep away from heterodoxy, and use Paul's steadfast faith under persecution as an example to contrast the opponents' characters, while continuing to follow the teachings of the Scriptures.

## Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 17 verses.

### Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

* Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330–360)
* Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
* Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450; complete)
* Codex Freerianus (c. 450; extant verses 6–8; 16–17)
* Codex Claromontanus (c. 550)

## The heresy in Ephesus in prophetic perspective (3:1–9)

Paul paints a picture of the false teachers as 'actual deviants from the norm established by his gospel' who, as a result, endanger the faith of themselves and their followers. A lengthy list of their vices spans verses 2-4. Among the terms listed is Greek: βλασφημοι (blasphēmoi), translated in some places as "blasphemers", but also as "abusive".

### Verse 5

    [People] ... having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

This verse makes clear that the listed vices "belong to heterodox Christians", given the directive that Timothy and his congregation are to keep away from them.

## The way of following Paul (3:10–17)

In this section Paul instructs Timothy to commit to Paul's teaching, as Timothy already shared many experiences with Paul, and urge him to 'accept the mantle of the Pauline mission'.

### Verse 16

    All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
* "God-breathed" (Greek: θεόπνευστος, theopneustos): can be rendered as "given by inspiration of God". The Syriac version renders it "written by the Spirit", the Ethiopian version: "by the Spirit of God". All Scripture (πᾶσα γραφὴ, pasa graphē; Towner renders it: "every [text of] Scripture"

### Verse 17

    so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The thoroughness in preparation for the work of God is significantly stressed and applicable for every Christian workers although the term the man of God narrowly can be interpreted for Christian teachers.

